- At least 632 people have died in a severe earthquake in Morocco, according to the country’s Interior Ministry.
- According to the updated figures, 329 people were injured, 51 of them critically.
- The magnitude 6.8 quake shook large parts of the northwest African country on Friday evening.
- According to the US Earthquake Observatory USGS, the epicenter of the quake was about 72 kilometers southwest of Marrakech at a depth of 18.5 kilometers.
The quake occurred shortly after 11 p.m. (local time). Images and videos from social networks show destroyed buildings in cities and people sitting on the streets. According to media reports, historical landmarks were also damaged.
Residents of the nearby city of Marrakesh reported to the Reuters news agency that buildings in the historic old town had collapsed. Videos posted online show damaged parts of the famous Red Walls, a Unesco World Heritage site, that surround Marrakech’s old town.
Quake felt 350 kilometers away
According to eyewitness reports, the earthquake caused panic among residents in Marrakech, Agadir and other cities. The tremors could still be felt in the capital Rabat, 350 kilometers away, or the port city of Casablanca, as the newspaper “Le Matin” reported. The quake was reportedly felt even in Portugal and Algeria.
According to the US Earthquake Observatory, an earthquake of this magnitude is very unlikely in this region, although not impossible. There has not been such a strong earthquake within a radius of 500 kilometers of the affected area for over 120 years.
EU offers help to Morocco
The European Union has offered help to Morocco after the devastating earthquake. “The EU is ready to support Morocco in these difficult moments,” wrote EU Council President Charles Michel on the short message service X, formerly Twitter.
The news from the country is terrible, continued Charles Michel. His thoughts are with everyone affected by the tragedy and with the rescue workers.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also expressed her condolences. The politician said at the G20 summit in New Delhi that her whole heart was with the Moroccan people in the face of the terrible earthquake.